New Director Appointed At Naugatuck Early Childhood Center

NAUGATUCK, CT — Liying "Lily" Zhao has been appointed as the new director of the Early Childhood Center at Central Avenue in Naugatuck, according to the school district.

In a news release, district officials said Zhao joins Naugatuck Public Schools from the Brass City Charter School in Waterbury, where she has worked as a principal since 2017. Prior to this, she was employed as a teacher.

During her time with Brass City, Zhao found success in the classroom and as a leader, taking the school through a complicated accreditation process, district officials said.

Zhao has also coached teachers on providing play-based experiences that promote critical thinking and problem-solving, according to district officials.

"My goal is to inspire educators and students to become life-long learners," Zhao said in a news release.

Zhao is working toward earning her administrators certificate from the University of Connecticut, according to district officials. She earned her Connecticut director's credential (CDC) in early childhood education from Charter Oak State College in 2020.